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Tom Markowski

Warren Mott faces difficult task vs. Cass Tech

Warren — As daunting a task it is to play top-ranked and two-time defending Division 1 state champion Detroit Cass Tech, Warren Mott coach Tom Milanov embraces the opportunity.

The odds of winning, however, are long for a program that’s never won a second-round game and has three playoff victories.

Still ...

“We have to play clean and win the turnover game,” said Milanov, as he prepares his team for the district final matchup at 1 p.m. Saturday at Cass Tech. “And we have to play well on special teams, (gaining) field position and not give up big plays.”

On the plus side, this is Mott’s most complete team, one that posted the school’s first 10-0 mark.

Quarterback Austin Ross leads the Mott attack, but its most important player could be center Jake Onstott (5-foot-11, 245 pounds). Mott’s offense runs out of the shotgun and Onstott calls all the line signals.

Games to watch

All games 7 Friday unless noted Romeo (6-4) at Clarkston (9-1): Clarkston appears to be as healthy as it’s been all season, and TB Ian Eriksen is running as well as he’s been. Clarkston by 15Rochester Adams (7-3) at Walled Lake Northern (8-2): The Adams defense has been sound. Northern has allowed 36 points the last three weeks. Northern by 2Detroit Catholic Central (8-2) at Walled Lake Western (9-1), 1 p.m. Saturday: Western QB Kyle Bambard must be on his game. C.C. by 3Clinton Township Chippewa Valley (9-1) at Macomb Dakota (10-0): Dakota defeated Chippewa Valley, 52-7, in the first meeting this season. Dakota by 10Birmingham Seaholm (9-1) vs. Birmingham Brother Rice (10-0), Berkley: Brother Rice breezed past Groves last week. Seaholm puts up a challenge. Brother Rice by 18Oak Park (6-4) vs. U-D Jesuit (6-4), Ferndale: Everything about this game indicates an even matchup except for one player, Oak Park all-purpose back John Kelly. Oak Park by 8Detroit East English Village Prep (7-3) at Detroit King (8-1), 5 p.m.: King beat Prep, 6-0 in double overtime this season. Expect another close one. King by 6Taylor Truman (8-2) at Wyandotte Roosevelt (10-0): Wyandotte beat Truman, 41-30, this season, its seventh straight victory in the series. Wyandotte by 5Detroit Country Day (7-3) at Pontiac Notre Dame Prep (8-2): These teams met in the district final last season, a 14-12 Country Day victory. Country Day by 8

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